IVF/ICSI May/June

[Cauliflower82]

Hi everyone

I’m creating a new thread with the hope of finding people with similar dates to me. I am due to start medication on May 13th with the hope egg collection will be June 19th. I’m 34, female factor fertility.

Anyone else out there with similar dates?

@littleone3 that’s fabulous news - yay!! I was wondering what was happening - so happy to hear from you and your good news. Did they manage to get any to freeze?

@Cauliflower82 yes they got 4 to freeze today (high C quality) and they are growing 4 more until tomorrow to see if any of them decide to bloomin well sort themselves out into something decent!

Also cauliflower I was just reading your post about having no bruises now on your stomach and getting compliments on your injection technique. How far we've come ay?! Remember how worried we were a few weeks ago!

@littleone3 that’s an amazing result. I’d be so, so happy with that number.
We have come a long long way! I’d always said I’d only ever do this once and i don’t feel that fear any more. I hope I’m not speaking too soon - I still have stimming and egg collection to go 😆. I’ve been so worried about injections and although I hate them, I can do them.
This board has been a lifeline for me.

@LittleOne3 those are such positive numbers. I'd be absolutely delighted with those! And some more still growing!

@Cauliflower82 you are a real pro now. I'd love to know what a good technique is. Mine seems hit or miss; sometimes goes straight in, sometimes really hurts and I have to try another spot. And one on maybe day 2 (a week ago) is still bruised and I keep hitting it on my desk!

@LittleOne3 4 for the freezer sounds amazing! I would be sooo happy with that! How many eggs did you have collected in the first place? Wishing you all the luck and I hope the 2ww goes quickly for you!

Is anyone able to explain the grading or how they decide to transfer day 2, 3 or 5? I would have thought that there would be no point transferring a day 2...might as well wait to see if it gets to day 5 and if it doesn't you would know after a few days later rather than 2 weeks? Or does it not work like that? Also, with the grades, I have heard people talk about AA, B, C or D. Again...would there be any point transferring a D grade? Sorry I want to be as informed as I can. I start my burserlin tomorrow and EC is planned for the end of June.

@LittleOne3 That's a fantastic result - you must be delighted! Will keep my fingers crossed for you. When's your test date?

@Zest11 I'm not entirely sure how the grading works and someone else will probably be able to explain it better but I think it's to do with how the embryo develops, and is mostly about cell division and the rate of cell division over the first few days. I'm not sure about 2 day transfers but I was told I'd be offered a 3dt if it looked like none of the embryos were going to make it to day 5 as sometimes they do better in the womb than the lab.

Anyway, I was a good girl and waited until this morning to test and got my first ever BFP! I'm still in shock.

@TwistofFate Amazing!!!!

@TwistofFate amazing news! Congratulations! This is such exciting news xx

@twistoffate WAAAAAAAY! YEEEEEEES!!! What does that even feel like to get a positive? I can't imagine 💕🥂🎉👍👏. Test day 10th June for me.

Hello everyone,

Hope it's not too late to join in. I've been lurking for a while but the whole thing is so full on that I've only just summoned the courage. Since I'm on a freeze all plan, I'll be around for a while so thought I'd take the plunge! All your stories have been really helpful, it's nice to know others are doing this too.

I had my EC yesterday after a short protocol. It was actually fine, I was really worried but I was so knocked out that I don't even remember coming back into the recovery room! I didn't feel anything at the time, although I was a bit sore afterwards once the strong meds wore off. Much better today. They put in a cannula for the IV meds and also I had a back door pessary to put in myself before going into theatre (hadn't expected that) but neither of those were bad. Hope that's reassuring for some of you coming up to EC.

Sorry about your cycle @Rroonnilwazib, hope AF shows up soon.

Hope it goes well for you today @Weenumpty.

Congrats @TwistOfFate, what amazing news!

@twistoffate FABULOUS news!! I’m so happy for you. Congratulations. The first positive test of the board. This is brilliant news. Please stick around and keep us all updated.

@mincedpea welcome to our board! I guess the physically hard bit is kind of over for you now and the emotional stuff really begins. Will your clinic be ringing you this morning to tell you how many eggs have fertilised?

I can’t wait to get up to egg collection and join you all!!

TwistofFate that's amazing, congratulations!! Please keep us updated! Xx

@LittleOne3 let's hope you find out soon!!

@mincedpea welcome! Glad you're feeling ok after EC.

@Cauliflower82 I know what you mean!! I've got baseline scan tomorrow, so getting to the next hurdle. I keep wanting it to be over, but also so badly for it to work!!

Thanks all! I'm still in shock, delighted but also really nervous! Hubby actually saw the result before I did, I was speechless, had convinced myself it would be negative. Will be keeping everything crossed for everyone else here. X

Thanks for the welcome !

Yes, the physical bit is over for now, phew. I was worried the day before EC, but having no injections that day was a real perk.

It's a waiting and numbers game now. The embryologist called this morning and our numbers are ok (10 fertilised) but she said to be ready for only third or so to make it to day 5. If we get that, we'll be thrilled! It's strange to think the actual "IVF" part of IVF is done.

I'm very impatient for the transfer though, I just want to get on with it. I know I have to wait for two months before it actually happens, maybe even more as I have a uterine polyp that needs to be removed before transfer, but it feels like so long to wait. I am so suspicious the jabs caused the polyp, as it wasn't there on my baseline scan, but was large as life just before my trigger. Has anyone else had that?

At least seeing other people's BFPs gives us a nice distraction as we wait!

Hi all just catching up from today.
@Zest11 the decision on when to transfer back is made on the number of eggs/front runners you have. Everyone gets very focused on a day 5 transfer but really if you have 1 to 2 clear front runners from the start they should be put back as soon as possible as that is the best place for them. So you could have 10 embryos dividing but if 1 or 2 are looking way ahead of the others it would likely be a day 3 transfer. Grading wise it’s all about how evenly the cells have divided and level of fragmentation etc.

@LittleOne3 those numbers are amazing have 4 in the freezer must be a comfort.

I had my call this morning, of the 9 eggs collected 5 fertilised normally. I am a little disappointed of the high drop off there, losing 4 overnight is a shame but as DH says that’s Still 5 chances we’ve got going and we only need 1 (though I’d love 1 or 2 to freeze). So another call tomorrow to see how they are dividing and they’ll decide whether is a transfer on Friday or Sunday.

Oh and @TwistofFate congratulations that’s amazing news 😀

@Spongebob79 those numbers still sound good to me - well done! And thanks for the run through on the days/grading decision. I was waiting for someone to answer that and you have done so very clearly!

I've got my baseline scan tomorrow and was slightly worried I'd be delayed as no AF but she seems to be showing her face now so let's see...

@KittyKatSmile haha oh dear I went a bit nerdy there didn’t I 😳! I remember quizzing our embryologist on it during my last cycle and it was really interesting. Glad it helped

Thank you Spongebob79 that is so helpful and really makes sense. Good luck over the next few days, please keep us posted! Xx

Congrats TwistofFate . Anyone else having progesterone shots and pessaries and feeling like shit ☹️😡? I’m increasingly angry , nauseous , headachy ,sore all over and crampy at only 4d past 2dt . In the past with my one successful pregnancy and every Mc one I’ve always gotten the nausea super early so trying not to loose it here with the bloody wait . This halfterm really isn’t at a good time but thankfully mine are old enough to entertain themselves some of the time . I don’t even know how many times I’ve had the 2ww in the last 12 y

I asked a million questions about grading this morning although our clinic was quite strict and only did Day 5 transfers so I only know about the end stage of grading.

They assigned the A-F grade on days 4 and 5. Grading at that stage depends on how well the ball of cells are organised. They can easily move up a grade in a day. An A grade has a better implantation rate than a B, and so on. There is no increase in birth defects for an A vs a D. If we had an A or B grade then they would only transfer 1 in. If we only had C/D/lower then they recommend transferring 2. Also relevant, our clinic will only freeze day 5 A-C grades. If they grow them to day 6 then they have to be an A or B grade to make the frozen cut! Obviously different clinics grade slightly different so they said to be careful transferring eggs between clinics because what one clinic would call a 'C' grade, another clinic may call it 'D' and refuse to implant.

So anyway that's my knowledge before it all falls out!

@kittykatsmile good luck for tomorrow - hope it goes well. Today I’ve just been consumed with thoughts it’ll work and I was adamant I would try and remain realistic.

@mincedpea sorry I think I missed you were doing a freeze all. Do you need to get the polyp removed via key hole surgery? 10 is a good number - best of luck now getting as many to day 5.

@spongebob79 5 is very good! It’s becoming more apparent to me that the biggest emotional rollercoaster is after egg collection. Keep us updated.

Also loving all the embryo grade bantz - my knowledge in this area is slim at best.

Yes, this grading bantz is epic. And agree that the stress really starts after egg collection! My clinic told me to take the day off work the next day for that very reason - so I don't cry at work. I cry at work every day these days anyway, I told her

Hi all. Just catching up.

Had no clue about the grading - sort of just go with a lot of stuff without actually understanding the science behind it!

@Nordicmom I am 6dp5dt. Last two mornings have woken up feeling hungover without actually having a drink! I don't have nausea but having headaches occasionally. And my boobs are enormous and sore but they have been for ages from the progesterone! In general I feel ok. Trying not to read too much in to it, I know it varies massively.